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Question:
I am wondering if the reason that my wife and I are having trouble getting pregnant is because my sperm dribbles out during ejaculation instead of shooting out. I have asked other men that I know and have heard some tales of being hit in the face while masturbating. The weird thing is that none of them believe me when I say that I maintain an erection after ejaculation. I can go on and on. I don't reach orgasm very easily the second time but I maintain the erection. My sperm has been checked and the count is normal. My wife has had an HSG and everything is okay. We are both very healthy and 26 years old. We were and are very athletic and do not drink or smoke at all. If you could let me know about the first question or point us in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. I have searched in vain on the internet and I'm tired of smutty sites that don't help. Thank you for your time.

Answer:
by Annette Owens:
(05/13/2004)
Since you already have had a sperm count and your wife a HSG, I assume that you have tried for a while to get pregnant. Have you tried to determine the time when your wife ovulates? She can take her temperature every morning and write it down. The temperature should stay constant for a while after her menstruation. It rises a little bit at the time of ovulation, which is the time your wife can get pregnant and you should have sex. The mucus discharged from her vagina also changes in consistency at that time. It gets thicker, allowing your sperm to enter her uterus and the fallopian tubes where it will meet the egg and fertilization will occur. So your wife should notice her daily temperature and the consistency of her cervical mucus. Ovulation usually occurs between two menstrual periods. She should also notice the length of her cycles; the time from one beginning of a period to the next. Usually this time is around 28 days but it may vary from person to person. I suggest that you try to refrain from having intercourse the days immediately before ovulation. This way your sperm will be concentrated at your next ejaculation. Once her temperature changes go ahead and have intercourse as soon as possible. Even though your sperm only dribbles out, you should be able to get pregnant, since the tip of your penis will be very close to her cervix (the lower end of her uterus, where the sperm enters). One thing that is important is for both of you is to try to stay relaxed. You are both 26 years old and have many fertile years ahead of you. You know that her fallopian tubes are open and that your sperm is fine. That is a great beginning! I would plan on taking a year where you try to specifically have intercourse at the time of her ovulation. But do not forget to have fun also! Enjoy intimacy and sex during the times where she is not fertile, which is during and immediately following her period, and again shortly before the time she expects her next period. During that time the “pressure to get pregnant” is off and you should just concentrate on enjoying each other. If you do not succeed during one year to get pregnant, you can move on to other measures, as having a gynecologist insert your sperm into your wife’s uterus through a long and very thin tube. There will be other possible measures as well, but I would definitely try on your own first for a while longer. By the way, some men are able to keep their erections after orgasm and ejaculation. Praise yourself lucky that you are one of them! Good luck! Annette Owens, MD PhD

Reviewed by: Kathleen VanKirk DHS

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